ML25182A186
| ML25182A186 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Global Laser Enrichment File:Global Laser Enrichment icon.png |
| Issue date: | 07/23/2025 |
| From: | Matt Bartlett, Rowley J NRC/NMSS/DFM/FFLB |
| To: | Global Laser Enrichment |
| Shared Package | |
| ML25182A184 | List: |
| References | |
| EPID L-2024-LLL-0009 | |
| Download: ML25182A186 (1) | |
Text
Enclosure SAFETY EVALUATION REPORT FOR THE GLOBAL LASER ENRICHMENT REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION TO BIFURCATE THE LICENSE APPLICATION FOR THE PADUCAH LASER ENRICHMENT FACILITY DOCKET NO. 70-7033 GLOBAL LASER ENRICHMENT, LLC THE EXEMPTION REQUEST Global Laser Enrichment, LLC (GLE) submitted a request for exemption from certain requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 70.22(m), via letter dated June 26, 2025 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System [ADAMS] Accession No. ML25177D049). GLE requested authorization to provide a description of the programs to protect classified matter after submitting the other required contents of its license application for the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF). According to GLE, the Standard Practice Procedures Plan (SPPP), Program Cyber Security Plan (PCSP) and Classified Matter Transportation Security Plan (CMTSP) were not complete at the time it submitted the PLEF license application. GLE stated that the exemption will allow the PLEF license application to proceed as scheduled and allow GLE to develop security plans more thoroughly and accurately.
GLE commits to submission of the SPPP, PCSP, and CMTSP approximately 6 months, but no later than 8 months, after the June 27, 2025, submission of the PLEF license application (ML25179A001).
BACKGROUND GLE, a jointly owned subsidiary of Silex Systems Limited and Cameco Corporation, submitted the letter requesting an exemption from requirements in 10 CFR 70.22(m); specifically, the requirement for its license application to contain a description of its security program to protect classified matter and equipment. GLE submitted a license application June 30, 2025, to possess and use special nuclear material at the PLEF in Paducah, Kentucky.
The NRCs regulation at 10 CFR 70.22(m) states:
Each application for a license to possess equipment capable of enriching uranium or operate an enrichment facility, and produce, possess, or use more than one effective kilogram of special nuclear material at any site or contiguous sites subject to control by the applicant, must contain a full description of the applicant's security program to protect against theft, and to protect against unauthorized viewing of classified enrichment equipment, and unauthorized disclosure of classified matter in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR parts 25 and 95.
The regulation at 10 CFR 70.17(a) provides the criteria for the NRC to grant an exemption to the regulations in 10 CFR Part 70.
DISCUSSION Under 10 CFR 70.17(a), the Commission may issue an exemption from the regulations in 10 CFR Part 70 that it determines is authorized by law and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and security and are otherwise in the public interest. GLE specifically requests an exemption from requirements of 10 CFR 70.22(m). If granted, the exemption would permit the submission of the SPPP, PCSP, and CMTSP up to 8 months after the submittal of
2 the other portions of the PLEF license application. The criteria for granting specific exemptions to the NRCs regulations under 10 CFR 70.17(a) are discussed in more detail below.
Authorized by Law:
The requested exemption would allow the NRC staff to begin its review of the license application while GLE completes its detailed design and the SPPP, PCSP, and CMTSP. The NRC staff determined that granting this exemption does not violate the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and that no other prohibition of law or the Commissions regulations exists to preclude the activities that would be authorized by the exemption. Therefore, the NRC staff finds the exemption is authorized by law, as required by 10 CFR 70.17(a).
Does Not Endanger Life or Property or Common Defense and Security:
The exemption will not endanger life, will not endanger property, and will not have an impact on the common defense and security since it does not change how the public is affected by the PLEF. The NRC will still review the SPPP, PCSP, and CMTSP as part of the complete license application, albeit on a delayed timeframe compared to the other components of the application.
The exemption will not authorize the possession or use of special nuclear material or result in the reduction of any standard for safety or security at the proposed PLEF. Accordingly, the NRC staff finds that the proposed exemption does not endanger life or property of the common defense and security, as required by 10 CFR 70.17(a).
In the Public Interest:
The NRCs regulations for specific exemptions at 10 CFR 70.17(a) require that the NRC staff determine whether the proposed request is in the public interest. Granting the exemption could facilitate a more efficient review process and reduce delays in reaching a final decision on the license application. The granting of the exemption likely will reduce the potential for requests for additional information related to the description of programs to protect classified matter.
Providing time for GLE to develop adequate program plans reduces the regulatory burden and allows the NRCs limited resources to be more efficiently used. For these reasons, the NRC staff finds that granting the exemption is in the public interest.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The NRCs regulations in 10 CFR 51.22(a) provide that certain licensing and regulatory actions, that fall within the categories of actions that the Commission has found do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment, are categorically excluded from an environmental review. The provisions of 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25)(i-v) and (vi)(G) state that granting an exemption from the requirements of any regulation of Title 10, is categorically excluded from an environmental review, provided that (i) There is no significant hazards consideration; (ii) There is no significant change in the types or significant increase in the amounts of any effluents that may be released offsite; (iii) There is no significant increase in individual or cumulative public or occupational radiation exposure; (iv) There is no significant construction impact; (v) There is no significant increase in the potential for or consequences from radiological accidents; and (vi) The requirements from which an exemption is sought involve: (G) Scheduling requirements.
3 For the reasons described below, GLEs request meets the criteria for a categorical exclusion.
There are no special circumstances in this request that require an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. GLE does not hold a 10 CFR Part 70 license currently and this exemption is procedural in nature and relates only to the timing of the submission of the SPPP, PCSP, and CMTSP; therefore the NRC staff finds no significant hazards consideration.
Additionally, (1) there are no effluents or offsite releases or significant increase in radiation exposure to workers or members of the public associated with this request; (2) there are no construction activities associated with this request, so there is no significant construction impact; (3) there is no significant increase in the potential for any radiological accidents associated with this request because granting the exemption does not permit facility operations; (4) because the exemption concerns the timing of the submission of required sections of an application, the exemption is related to a scheduling requirement under 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25)(vi)(G). Therefore, under 10 CFR 51.22(b) and 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25) the NRC staff finds an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment does not need to be prepared in connection with the approval of this exemption request.
CONCLUSION The NRC staff finds that granting the exemption is authorized by law, will not endanger life or property or common defense and security, and is otherwise in the public interest. Therefore, the NRC staff grants GLE an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.22(m). GLE has until March 1, 2026, to submit the SPPP, PCSP, and CMTSP as part of the license application.
Should GLE not submit the SPPP, PCSP, and CMTSP by March 1, 2026, the NRC may extend the overall review schedule or deny the application.
PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Bartlett, NMSS/DFM Jonathan Rowley, NMSS/DFM